[Inner Sanctum] Strange Confession (Original screenplay for the 1945 film) by Hoffman, John (director); M. Coates Webster (screenwriter); Lon Chaney, Jr., Milburn Stone, Brenda Joyce, J. Carrol Naish (starring) - 1945

Universal City, CA: Universal Pictures, 1945. Draft script for the 1945 film "Strange Confessions," here seen on the front wrapper titled only as "Untitled Inner Sanctum," with "Strange Confession" written above it in blue holograph ink, and a credit for screenwriter Webster. All leaves watermarked "CONTRACT FILE COPY." The fifth Inner Sanctum installment, a remake of "The Man Who Reclaimed His Head" (1934). Director Hoffman in his directorial debut helped create one of the film series' stronger titles, with slow but deliberate direction and an excellent soundtrack. Lon Chaney, Jr., plays a chemist named Jeff Carter, who arrives at a lawyer's home with a large bag (later revealing a severed head). Told in flashback, Jeff's story about being underpaid, working for unprincipled pharmaceutical tycoon Roger Graham (Naish). Roger decides to release Jeff's unproved influenza drug and romance his wife while he is away in South America working on the drug. When Jeff returns and finds that his son has died from the effects of the untested drug, he flips, takes a large bolo knife and decapitates Roger. Gray card titled wrappers, rubber-stamped production No. 7291, with credits for screenwriter Webster. 116 leaves, carbon typescript on onionskin stock. Pages Near Fine, wrapper Very Good plus bound with two gold brads. Wrapper now encapsulated in mylar. Weaver, Universal Horrors.